DAY 1. TRIESTE
Meeting in Trieste, one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities of Italy, mixing latin, german and Slavic culture. This is a city that represents a boundary line on a geographical, hystorical and cultural level. This is the reason why The wealth of architectural styles in the palaces in Trieste is remarkable: Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Eclectic and Baroque, coexisting in a harmonious blend with Roman remains, eighteenth century buildings and Hapsburg style buildings.
The visit begins in Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia, the largest waterfront square in Europe. You will be surrounded by the beauty of nature, on one side, and the beauty of the buildings, in the others: The City Hall, built on the XVIII Century, the Loyd Triestino Building and Palazzo Pitteri. At the centre of the Piazza is the Fontana dei Quattro Continenti (1751). The fountain was built to represent Trieste as a city of prosperity, thanks to its establishment as a Free Port by Charles VI and Maria Theresa of Austria’s policy for developing the city. The area around this wonderful square is called “Theresian Quarter”. Here you can “breathe” the strong Austrian heritage of the city. Than the visit goes on and moves back in the history, to the foundation of Trieste: the Roman period. The hill of San Giusto is the oldest part of the city: you can see its Roman Theater, the Cathedral and the Castle.
Lunch in a typical “osteria”.
In the afternoon visit of the Castle of Miramare. Built between 1856 and 1860 by Archduke Maximilian of Austria, later Emperor of Mexico, the building is strongly influenced by a Romantic taste, as a revisited construction of a medieval fortress. The archduke personally oversaw both the planning of the building and the layout of the large park (over 22 hectares), an English-style and Italian-style garden, rich in rare plants, sculptures and ponds, which goes down towards the sea with wide steps.
Transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
DAY 2. UDINE E CIVIDALE
Meeting with the guide in Udine. Visit of the city of Venetian charm and ancient buildings. Piazza Libertà or “Liberty Square” is defined “the most beautiful Venetian Square on the mainland”, while Piazza Matteotti or Matteotti Square (also known as Piazza delle Erbe/ Herb Square), is surrounded by porticoes and has the appearance of an open-air living room where you can observe an array of ancient and colourful buildings that bear witness to the spirit of Udine. On the hill, the castle towers over the city roof-tops with a view of the surrounding mountains and, towards the south, the Adriatic sea. In the 1700’s, the renowned artist Giambattista Tiepolo reached his artistic maturity in this same city: his masterpieces are on display in the Gallerie del Tiepolo (Tiepolo Galleries at the Palazzo Patriarcale), in the Cathedral and in the Chiesa della Purità (Church of Purity).
Light lunch based on typical products in the city center.
In the afternoon visit of Cividale del Friuli. Numerous artistic findings confirm the historical importance of this city: the Lombardic temple, the Cathedral containing the silver altarpiece of Pellegrino II, The Municipal Building (14th-15th century) The Cathedral’s Christian Museum. Last but not least, we must not forget the Devil’s Bridge with its breathtaking view of the Natisone River, which according to legend was built by the devil himself in exchange for the soul of the first person who crossed it. End of the tour.
